Electromagnetic block system.



No. 785,446. PATENTED MAR. 2l, 1905. G. THOMPSON. ELECTROMAGNETIC BLOCKSYSTEM.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 16, 1901.

Jnroni'ar $111M; Thompson Jfiarney WET? saws raieatea itrweh 21, m5.

PATENT Wicca GUION THOMPSON, OF DULUTH, EHNNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TOTllETllOUPSON SA lnE'lY APPLIANCE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 785,446, dated. March21, 1905.

Application filed May 16,1901. Serial No. 60,427.

To a whom it 'II'h/Lf/ nun/writ:

Be it known that l, (iUXON "lnonrsox, acitizen of the United States,residing at ll'uluth, in the county of St. Louis and State ofTilinnesota, have invented new and. useful improvements inElectromagnetic Block Systems, of' which the following is a full, clear,and exact description, such will enable others skilled in the art tomake and use the same.

My invention relates to electromagnetic block systems, and has for itsobject the provision of means for progressively establishing anddissolving spheres of magnetic influence at intervals along apredetermined route.

It consists of a series normally open primary electric circuits, eachincluding a source of electricity, the coil of an electromagnet, anormally open circuit-controlling contact adapted to be closed by thesaid magnet when ling contact adapted to he opened by the magnet whenenergized of another of said ci rcuits, and a series of normally opensecondary electric circuits, each including a source of electricity, anelectrornagnet, a normally open circuit-controlling contact governedtherehy, the first said nm'mally open contact, and said normally closedcontact.

it also consists of certain other confstructiOns, combinations, andarrangements of parts, as will he hereinafter more particularlydescribed and claimed.

in the drawings, Figure 1 is a diagram of my said invention. Fig. 2 is adiagram of a convcyalme, showing for the purpose of illustrating theutility of said invention certain means adapted to initiate theoperation ol' said invention and certain othcrmeanaadapted to beoperated hy said invention.

in the drawings, A, ll, (l, l l), l, (l, and ii are electromagnetsthecoils of which arrincluded in derived circuits each having twobranches and shunted, respectively, onto the i coils of electromag'netsA", ll", and r). as

SllOW'fl, and corw-s)ondingelectroniag'ncts inrther along said route andnot shown in any suitable manner or by any suitahhmeans adapted toeliminate each oi the lirst said magnets from any said circuit exceptthe circuit energized, a normally closed circuit-controlincluding onlythe coil of said magnet and the 5 coil of the individual magnet uponwhich it is shunted. 'lhc coils ol' the electroniagnets f 1/, .2, A", ilY, i)", and E are also iri cluded in a. series of normally open primarand Secondary electric circuits each including a source of electricity,as a hattcry U, the electrical resistanceoi' each of which normally opencircuits is relatively less than the resistance of the derived circuits.Each of said normally open circuits also includes, as rr-spectively at38, 39, 4d), il, 42, 43, 4i, and 45, a normally open circuit-controllingcontact adapted to he closed by the magnet when energized of itsespective circuit by means of an armature and armature-lever, as respcc-5 tivcly at SX, SY, S16, SA, SB, SC, SD, and SE, governed by said magnetand supporting an opposite contact adapted to estahlish when saidarmature is operated by said magnet :1 communication hetwecnsaid opencon- 7 tact and a contiguous terminal contact of an intermediateconductor, as respectively A, 25, 2 27, 28, 29, and 30, shown, and acorresponding terminal contact farther along said i route, but notshown, and each oi said primary circuits further includes a normallyclosed circuit-cmitrolling contact between the opposite end oi saidintmmmliate conductor and the free end of a conductor, as respectivelyill. 35, ll}, and 37, shown, and corre- 50 spending mmductore fartheralong said route and not shown, which conductor is connected at itsopposite cud to a mutual conductor ll,

, connected loono oi the poles l of said hat- I lcry, each of whichnormally closed contacts 5 is adapted to he opened I) the electroniaguctwhen energized oi another of said circuits,

:1 respectively A", ll", (l l), and l i ,sli \\'u, and cv'u'rcspondiugclcctroinagiu-ts farther along said route and not shown. liar-h ol' saidsecondary circuitsincludes, inaddilion to the intcrnualialecoznluctorolthecorrcs',louding priuniry circuits, as 27, a preceding intrlnwliahconductor, as .l-l, which preceding condmdor under othercircumstances forms the intermediate conductor of another I primarycircuit. Said preceding conductor i is provided at its opposite endswith normally open contacts, one ofwhich is adapted to be closed by themagnet, as A which establishes the primary circuit, and the other ofwhich is adapted to be closed by the mag net, as X which establishes thesecondary circuit. Said secondary circuit also includes the coil of themagnet, as X, which estabcoils of said electromagnets included in saidnormally open circuits and to a mutual conductor 4V, leading to theopposite pole N of said battery. 1 and 8, 2 and 10, 3 and i2, 4 and 14:,5 and 1(3, 6 and 18, 7 and 20, 8 (not designated on the drawings) and-22are pairs of conductors included, respectively, with the coils of saidelectromagnets A, B, C, l), E, F, (1 and H in said derived circuitsshunted, as aforesaid, upon the coils of said respective electromagnetsA, B, C D and it", as shown, and corresponding clectromagnets t'artheralong said route and not shown.

For the purpose of illustrating the utility of my invention I have shownin Fig. 2 a conveyance-carryingmeans adapted to initiate the operationof my said invention and com- )rising an electromagnet A, de )endinfromldem electromagnets B and C the coils of along said route and notshown.

which are connected together by conductors j and Zr, which magnet C" isprovided with an armature normally retracted from said magnet bya springand adapted in retracted position to engage the free end of a leverelectrically connected by a conductor g with one oi the polesot' abatter yl l the opposite pole of which battery is connected, through anelectric-bell mechanism 1) and a normally open circuitcontrollingcontact s, by conductors fand c, with the opposite end of said lever. Acoiled spring is secured at one end to said lever and at its oppositeend to a suitable anchorage and is adapted when said levcris releasedfrom engagement with said armature to cause said lever to close saidnormally open contact a whereby the circuit from said battery H iscompleted through said bell, causing it to sound. Said conveyanceisadapted to pass in the direction indicated by the arrow P along theroute upon which my invention is laid and to. bring the elcctromagnetsB" and A successively over said electromagnets A, X B, Y, (J, Z 1), A E,B, F, C, G, D, H, and E, as shown, and other similar magnets fartherWhen the electromagnet A" passes over said magnet A, said magnet A isenergized by induction from resets said magnet A, and a current ofelectricity is created in the derived circuit including the coil of saidmagnet A and'the coil of said magnet A, thereby energizingthe magnet Acausing it to attract its armatu re SA and to close the normally opencircuit-controlling contact 41, thereby establishing a closed primarycircuit from battery O,through conductors 15, the coil of magnet A. theconductors-2T,

37, and 'R to said battery, thus maintaining the magnetic energy of saidmagnet A, the magnet A becoming again inert as soon as the magnet A haspassed out of inductive distance from it. 'hen said magnet A passes oversaidmagnet X said magnet X is energized by ind uctlon from said magnetA, and thereupon attracts its armature SK, causingit to close thenormally open contact 38, thereby establishing a closed secondarycircuit from battery 0, through conductors W, 9, the coil of said magnetX, the conductors 2 27. 37, R to said battery, thereby maintaining themagnetic energy of the magnet X In like manner the magnet A as theconveyance proceeds acts upon the other members o'l said series. It isobvious, however, that when said magnet A comes over the magnet l) andinitiates an operation of the magnet i) in the manner described theprimary circuit, including the magnet A", and the secondary circuit,including the magnet X will be broken by the opening of the contactbetween the conductors 27 and 37, whereupon the magnets A and X veyancereaches the magnet l) the tandem magnet B J" will be energized byinduction from said magnet X and will thereupon attract its armature,thus releasing said lever, which will be drawn forward by said springand close the normally open circuit-controlling contact- 8 therebyestablishing the circuit from the battery Il through said bell mechanismD causing said bell to sound an alarm.

While 1 have described such means as are shown in Fig. 2 to illustratethe utility of my said invention, it is obvious that such means mayberadically altered or means of a totally dili'erent character may beemployed both to initiate the operation of the magnets laid on saidroute and to be voperated by my said invention. 1 do not, therefore,desire to limit myself to any such particular means, but regard myinvention, ex lusive of. the means shown on said conveyahce, as acomplete mechanism or tool capable of performing "certain operationswhen properly governec as, byanalogy, a boiler is a comple'temechanismor tool, but capable of performing certain services only when filledwith water and also obvious that the exact construction of saidclectromagnets, armatures, contacts, conductors. or source ofelectricity may Within the scope of my invention be modified or al'tcrcd provided the circuits and operations claimed arc-preserved.

liar ing now described my invention, what 2. claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, 13"" I i, in means for-the purposes d escrihd,thecombination of a series of normally open new trio circuits eachincluding a sonrceof electricity the coil of an cleetromagnet, a normally open circuitscontrolling contact adapted to be closed by saidsleetromagnet when said electromagnet is energized, a normally closedcircuit-controlling Contact adapted to be opened by the magnet; whenenergized, of another of said circuits, and a derived circuit includingan electromagnct shunted onto the coil of the first said electromagnet,substantially as described. G

2. in means for the purposes described, th s combination of a series ofnormally open primary electric circuits each comprising a source ofelectricity, the coil of an electromagnet, a normally open circuit-'controllinn' contact adapted to be closed by said ele'ctrornagnet whenenergised, a normally closed circuitcontrolling contact adapted tobe,opened by the electromagnet when energized of another of -saidcircuits; a series of normally open secondary electric circuits eachincluding a source of electricity, the said coil of the electromagnct ofa third and preceding one of said primary circuits, a normally opencontact governed thereby, the first said normally open contactfi'antlsaid normally closed contact; and a derived circuit, including. anelectromagnct and shunted onto the coil of the first said electromagnet,substantially as described.

3. in means for the purposes described, the combination f a normallyopen electric circuit, comprising asourcc of electricity the coil ofanclectromagnet, a normally-open circuitcontrolling contact governed llysaid electromagnet and a normally closed circuit-controlling contact;means embodying an armature adapted in operation toopen said normallyclosed contact; a derived circuit including" an electromagnet shuntedonto the (301i of the first said electromagnet; a traveling magnen'ornumber of derived circuits, each including an energized clectroma 'net,adapted in passage 1 to energize said derived circuit and subsequentlyto operate said armature to open said normally closed contact,substantially as dv scribed.

4. in means for the purposes described the combination of a series ofnormally open primaryclcctric circuits each including a source of(lectricity, an electromagnet, a normally open circuit-controlling,contact governed by said electromagnct and a normally closed ciropensaid normally closed contact; a second ary electric circuit comprising asource 0t cult-controlling contact governed by the elec tromagnet of arelative second one of said cir' cuits; a series of normally opensecondary electric circuits, each comprising a source of electricity,the electromagnet of a relative 7 0 third one of said primary circuits,a normally open contact governed thereby, the respective first saidnormally open contact and the respective said normally closed contact; aplural electromagnet, respectively shunted onto the coils ofcorresponding, said clectromagnets of said primary circuits; a travelingmagnet, or energized electromagnet, adapted in passage to first energizeone of said derived circuits to close the normally open contact of theprimary circuit, and subsequently to energize said relative third one ofsaid electromagnets to close the normally open contact governed therebyto close the secondary circuit, and subsequently to cnergizc'the derivedcircuit shunted onto'the magnet of said relative second one of saidprimary circuits to open said normally closed contact, substantially asdescribed. y

5. In means for the purposes described, the combination of a normallyopen electric cir cult comprising asonrce of electricity anelectromagnet,a normally open circuit-controlling contact governed bysaid electromagnet and a normally closed circuihcontrolling contact; I

:shunted onto the coil of the first said electromagnet and subsequentlyto energize thcthird said elcctromagnet and subsequently to energize thederived circuit shuntcd onto the coil 0 t the second said electromagnet,substantially as described.

6. in means for the purposes described, the combination of a normallyopen electric circuitcomprising a source of electricity, anelectromagnct, a normally open circuit-controlling 1 contact governed bysaid electromagnet and a normally closed circnit controlling contact; anelectromagnct adapted when cncrglzcd to electricity, a thirdclcctromagnet a normally open circuit-controlling contact governedthereby, the first said normally open contact and said normally closedcontact; and traveling means adapted during its progress to (211- 3ergize the first third and second said electro magnets in the ordernamed, substantially as described.

7.- In means for the purposes described, thecombination of a normallyopen primary electric circuit including a source of electricity, anelectromagnet a normally open contact controlled by said electromagnetand a normally closed contact; a second electromagnet, adapted whenenergized to open said normally closed contact; a secondary electriccircuit including a source of electricity a third elcctromagnet anormally open circuit-controlling contact governed thereby, the firstsaid normally open contact and said normally closed contact; a

derived circuit of relatively high resistance and including anelectromagnet shunted on the coil of the first said magnet; a secondderived circuit of relative high resistance and including anclectromagnet shunted on the coil of the said-second electromagnet,substantially as described.

ln testimony whereofI have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

GUION THOMPSON;

WVitnesses:

JAMES T. WATSON, PHINEAS AYER.

